Two new flavanones from Polytrichum commune Hedw.

Seven flavanones, including two new compounds coupled with styryl units, communins C (1) and D (2), as well as five known compounds, were isolated from Polytrichum commune Hedw. The planar structures of all compounds were determined using extensive spectroscopic analysis. The absolute configurations of two new compounds were assigned by comparing experimental ECD with calculated ECD. The cytotoxicity of all isolates against HCT-116, BGC803, MCF7 and PANC-1 cell lines was evaluated. Communin D exhibited significant cytotoxic activity on BGC803 cells with an IC50 value of 9.3 µM.

The Relation Between Red Blood Cell Distribution Width and Coronary Atherosclerotic Plaque Vulnerability Detected by Intracoronary Optical Coherence Tomography.

BACKGROUND: A higher red blood cell distribution width (RDW) predicts major adverse cardiac events in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). However, there are only a few studies regarding the relationship between RDW and vulnerable plaques. Thus, the purpose of the present study is to retrospectively explore the predictive value of the association between RDW and plaque vulnerability assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) in patients with cardiovascular (CV) diseases. METHODS: This study included 35 patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP) and 70 patients with the acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We documented clinical features as well as peripheral RDW. Plaque vulnerability was determined by OCT. We defined thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA) as a lipid-rich plaque (fibrous cap <65 µm thick). RESULTS: Plaque rupture was detected more frequently in patients with ACS compared with patients with SAP (62.9 vs. 2.9%, p<0.001, and the corresponding TCFA were 50.69±15.68 vs. 80.03±21.60 µm, p<0.001, respectively). A higher RDW was found in patients with ACS than in patients with SAP (p<0.001). A cut-off value of RDW >13.85% could detect ruptured plaque with a sensitivity of 72.3% and a specificity of 62%. CONCLUSION: TCFA and plaque rupture were detected more frequently in patients with ACS compared with SAP. Elevated RDW was positively the predictive value of the association between plaque vulnerability.

Excimer laser coronary atherectomy for a severe calcified coronary ostium lesion: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous coronary intervention can be challenging for ostial coronary artery lesions due to calcium burden and elastic fiber content. Excimer laser coronary atherectomy (ELCA) is a less common treatment for severe calcified coronary ostium lesions. CASE SUMMARY: An 81-year-old male presented to the Cardiology Department of Qingdao Municipal Hospital with a 1-year history of chest pain. Coronary angiography showed severe calcific stenosis (approximately 90%) in the right coronary artery ostium. The right coronary artery ostium was unable to be advanced using a 2.5 mm × 12.0 mm balloon (NC Sprinter, Medtronic, United States) or dilated using a 2.0 mm × 12.0 mm balloon (Sprinter, Medtronic, United States). The patient underwent successful ELCA and balloon dilation of the calcified coronary ostium lesion. CONCLUSION: ELCA appears to be a safe and effective treatment for the management of severe calcified coronary ostium lesions.

[Discussion on medicinal value of Saposhnikoviae Radix based on difference of ketone content in cortex and wood of Saposhnikoviae Radix].

In order to confirm the tradition that bolting Saposhnikoviae Radix could not be used as medicine,the content of four chromone components in the cortex and wood of Saposhnikoviae Radix was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography( HPLC),and the chemical fingerprints were established,12 common peaks were calibrated. The similarity analysis found that the similarity between batches was 0. 115-0. 995,it indicates that the cortex and wood of Saposhnikoviae Radix have certain differences. On this basis,systematic clustering analysis,principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis were carried out with the content of four chromone components and whether they met the pharmacopoeia criteria as the original variables. The results showed that the content of the four components in the cortex of Saposhnikoviae Radix was much higher than that in the wood,and the four components detected were able to distinguish the cortex and the wood of Saposhnikoviae Radix. The results of the study reveal the tradition that bolting Saposhnikoviae Radix should not be used as medicine dut to decreased quality.

Chelidonine enhances the antitumor effect of lenvatinib on hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

BACKGROUND: Lenvatinib is a newly approved molecular targeted drug for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the high cost associated with this treatment poses a huge financial burden on patients and the entire public health system. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop novel strategies that enhance the antitumor effect of lenvatinib. METHODS: The antitumor effects of chelidonine or/and lenvatinib on HCC cell lines MHCC97-H and LM-3 were examined using the 3-[4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl]-2,5-diphenyl-2- H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. For the in-vivo investigation, the effect on subcutaneous or intrahepatic tumor growth in nude mice was also determined. The mRNA levels of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related factors were examined through quantitative polymerase chain reaction or Western blot. RESULTS: In the present study, we found that treatment with chelidonine enhanced the apoptotic effect of lenvatinib on HCC cells and the in-vivo growth of HCC tumors in nude mice. Mechanistically, treatment with chelidonine increased the expression of epithelial indicator E-cadherin, whereas it decreased the expression of mesenchymal indicators N-cadherin and Vimentin. These findings suggest that chelidonine restricted the EMT in HCC cells. CONCLUSION: Chelidonine inhibits the process of EMT and enhances the antitumor effect of lenvatinib on HCC cells.

Culprit Lesion Characteristics in Young Patients with Hyperhomocysteinemia.

BACKGROUND The relationships between culprit coronary plaque characteristics and hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) are not fully understood in young patients. In this study we investigated the relationship between culprit atherosclerotic plaque phenotype assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) in young patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS We investigated the OCT imaging and HHcy of 123 lesions in 123 young patients (≤45 years of age). According to OCT images, culprit lesions were classified as thin-cap fiber atheroma (TCFA), thrombus, and other. The 123 patients were grouped as: HHcy group (53 cases, HHcy ≥15.5 µmol/l) and control group (70 cases, HHcy <15.5 µmol/l). RESULTS Compared with the control group, the HHcy group had a higher proportion of OCT-TCFA (p=0.03), OCT-vasa vasorum (p=0.013), and OCT-thrombus (p=0.012), and a larger lipid arc (p=0.002). HHcy (P=0.037) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) (P=0.016) remained independent predictors of TCFAs. HHcy (P=0.026) and smoking (P=0.005) remained independent determinants of thrombus. CONCLUSIONS HHcy and MetS are associated with TCFAs, and HHcy and smoking are associated with thrombus in young patients with coronary artery disease.

[Climatic division of Blumea balsamifera in Guizhou province based on topographical conditions].

According to the meteorological index of the growth of Blumea balsamifera, and by using the climate and geographic date recorded in the main meteorological stations for 54 years（1960-2014） in Guizhou province, the authors established a regression model between climate division factors and geographic information for the possible planting area. Considering integrated various factors including climate factor, gradient and elevation, based on GIS technology, ascertain the planting area of B. balsamifera. Combined with the land use condition of Guizhou province based on RS, analyzed the distribution rule of the synthesis index, climatic divisions of B. balsamifera in Guizhou were divided into 3 areas (the most suitable, suitable, sub-suitable) objectively. There are 3 areas can plant B. balsamifera (the southwest, the south and the north). The most suitable climate area has 76.98 km², the suitable climate area has 156.04 km², and the sub-suitable climate area has 235.43 km².

[Correlation analysis between quality characteristics and commercial specifications of Panacis Quinquefolii Radix].

This study was aimed to analyze the correlation between commercial specifications of Panacis Quinquefolii Radix and quantitative indexes of sevent kinds of ginsenosides (ginsenosides Rg¹, Re, Rb¹, Rc, Rb2, Rb3, Rd) contained in Panacis Quinquefolii Radix by using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), explore the correlation between the characteristics of the traditional Panacis Quinquefolii Radix specifications and modern chemical quantitative indicators, and provide a theoretical basis for the quality grade evaluation of Panacis Quinquefolii Radix. The HPLC fingerprint method was used to analyze 40 batches of Panacis Quinquefolii Radix. A total of 19 peaks were marked, and the similarity was above 0.900 for all samples. On this basis, processing methods, product specifications, contents of 7 components, and the total contents of ginsenoside Rg¹, Re and Rb¹ were used as the original variables for cluster analysis and principal component analysis. The results showed great correlation between the quality of Panacis Quinquefolii Radix and the information on their origins, but the difference was less with the characteristics of traditional commercial specifications, indicating some limitations in the division of commercial specifications of Panacis Quinquefolii Radix. The results revealed the intrinsic relationship between the product specifications, traditional qualitative indexes, and quantitative indexes of chemical components of Panacis Quinquefolii Radix, providing a new idea for the objective comprehensive evaluation of the quality of Panacis Quinquefolii Radix.

[Research on topographic factors of ecology suitability regionalization of Atractylodis macrocephala].

Through study on the correlation between Atractylodis macrocephala lactones ingredient content and topographic factors, we researched regionalization from topography of five main producing provinces of the country, in order to provide a scientific basis for A. macrocephala reasonable cultivation. By sampling from 40 origins of five main producing provinces of the country, the variation of A. macrocephala lactones ingredient content in different conditions of topographic factors and the effect of altitude, slope and aspect was analyzed by SPSS. Then according to the relationship between A. macrocephala lactones ingredient content and topographic factors, the ecological suitability regionalization was conducted by using ArcGIS based on topographic factors. It is suitable for growth of A. macrocephala in the hilly and mountainous areas of southern whose A. macrocephala lactones ingredient content is in high levels. It is unsuitable for growth of A. macrocephala in Northern plain areas, but we can cultivate A. macrocephala in the hilly and mountainous areas of Northern. The most suitable topographic condition for cultivation of A. macrocephala : altitude 200 meters above, slope 3.00-4.99 degrees.

[Implication of elevated expression of receptor for activated C kinase 1 in mononuclear cells and coronary atherosclerotic plaques from patients with coronary artery disease].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the expression and clinical implication of receptor for activated C kinase 1 (RACK1) in mononuclear cells and coronary atherosclerotic plaques from patients with coronary artery disease. METHODS: mRNA and protein expressions of RACK1 were detected in mononuclear cells from 29 patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP), 41 patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and 30 healthy volunteers. RACK1 protein expression was also detected by immunohistochemistry in 17 coronary atherosclerotic plaques and 6 normal autopsy coronary samples. RESULTS: (1) mRNA expression of RACK1 was significantly upregulated in mononuclear cells from patients with ACS compared with those from patients with SAP (18.71 ± 5.45 vs. 12.18 ± 4.14, P < 0.05), and the latter was also significantly higher than in healthy controls (12.18 ± 4.14 vs. 3.65 ± 1.57, P < 0.05). (2) Similar changes were observed for protein expression of RACK1 for the three groups. (3) Increased expression of RACK1 was found in atherosclerotic plaques, especially in unstable plaques, positive RACK1 stain was evidenced in foam cells, inflammatory cells, smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of RACK1 is significantly upregulated in mononuclear cells from patients with coronary artery disease, especially in patients with ACS, and in coronary atherosclerotic plaques, especially in unstable plaques. Our results thus suggest that RACK1 might play an important role in the development and progression of coronary artery disease.